Rim for vehicle wheels



Jilly 10. 19 8.

c.- 'r. BI ERS RIM FOR VEHICLE WHEELS Filed Dec. 9, 6

Patented July 10, 1928.

UNITED {STATES CHRIS 'r. IBIERS, or reivroiritn-i m r I RIM vron VEHICLE EELS,

Application filed December 9, 192 6. Seiial N o. 153,501.

This invention relates to rims for automobiles or the like which proy de a mounting for a' pneumatic tire. In runs of this character, as is well known, much dlfiiculty 1s v frequently experienced in removing or re-.

placing the tires as occasion may require by reason of the fact that, as ord nar'1ly"constructed, it is necessary to pry up and spring the tire over the edge of the mm which requires special tools or appliances which make it difficult or impossible to make such a change on the road.

The present invention is directed to a run which issplit circumferentially to afford a:

mainor body section and a narrow edge sectionwhich, when assembled lIl butt edge re lation' to one another, provide a complete Further details will appear from a description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings 1 locked relation, as in Fig. 2, 'all'portion's or wherein Figure 1 1s a cross sectional viewthrough the rim showing the parts in locked rela-' tion; I l

Fig. 2 is an inner face'view showing the a latch in looking relation; Fig. 3 is a'similar view showing the latch unlocked; j I Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the latch looked as in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the latch unlocked as in 'Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective of a small tool adapted for use in manipulating the latch.

The rim comprises a main section 10 having the usual side flange 11 1n COIIJHIICUOIIV 4 with a narrow side section 12 having a flange 13, the configuration of the two sections being such that, when joined together, they will constitute a rim of standard formation adapted to serve asa mountingfor a split tire 14 provided with the usual thickened edges 15 which lie in opposed relation within the flanges 11 and 13.

The inner edges of the sections 10 and 12 lie in abutting relation to one another, and,

the section 12 is provided at recurrent in tervals around its periphery with a plurality ofhook engaging members 15 each comprising an attaching portion 16 whicliis secured to the'inner ,face'of the rim section 12 by rivets 17 or the like, or by spot weld-i ing. The inwardly protruding portion of each hook 15' is cut away to provide a notch :18 leaving an over-hanging lip 19 having a straight inner edge 20. V

The hooks are arranged to overlie the inner 'face of the rim sectionldand coact,

with'a series of latches 21 each of which is otelbow shape, and is provided with an overhanging latch tongue 22 adapted, when the latch is lockedjtoen'gage with "the lip 19, as in Fig. 2. Each of the latche'si'spiv oted at its bend to a pinor stud'23, and each terminates in a foot 24 which, when the latch is locked, will, extend in a longitudinal direction with respect tothewheel rim; In order to facilitate a swinging of-the latch,

the latch is provided, oneach side of" the ,l

pivot 23, with socket holes 25. The. socket llQlGSlIl U111SO11; are adapted to receive; the pins 26' of'a spanner tool 27 which, when applied, constitutes an'out'wardlyextending handle and afiords sulficientleverage m asily' operate "-the'latch'member. I

It will be noted that, when the-latch is in the latch will lie within a smaller compass measured circumferentially of the rim than when the latch is thrown back into the open 1 position indicated in Fig. 3. -Advantage is taken of this fact in order to maintain the latch locked against. accidental displacement. By so arranging the pivot pin 23, the latch will be held sufficiently, close to the curving face ofthe rim to prevent a. swinging back away from the medial or locked position, save under the expenditure of agonally opposite corner of the latch, which portions, whenthe latch is swung back, will enough force. toovercome the friction occasioned by contact of the foot 2st and the difirmly against the rim. This will be clearly I apparent froman inspection of Figs. 4 and 5 which indicates a substantial difference; in the-distancespanned by the latch member when in locked and unlocked positions.

By thus proportioning and arranging the parts, the latch willautomatically hold itself in locked relation save when force is applied to unlock it. The shape of the latch,

furthermore, is one whichpermits the unlocking performed either by theTI-nse of a spannertool of thecharacteii shoivn in Fig. 6, or by'the application of a driving force inwardly against the end of the foot in case a spanner tool is not available.

The arranging is one" which permits the latch to be rather loosely pivoted and at the same time to maintain itself in locking relation ,nithoiit the provision oi' supplemental ineans such as springs, :cam levers, or the like, fo ipreventing displacement, and

atthe sametime this relatively loose piv;

,oting of the parts prevents jamming or riisting to an extent which might interfere with theiii locking' the latch, as occasion.

,c rim surface.

I claim:

1. In a im forvehiclewheels, the combi nation o lhtv vo circnm'ferentially divided rim sections, one of the rim sections being pr0- vided with hook-shaped engaging members inwardly protruding over the face of the other rim member, and the latter being prov ded with a plurality of pivoted latch memere of e ow h remw ofeec latch member being confignred tolock with the corresponding engaging member, and the c in spaced relation to the rim so other end of eachlatch being of substantially equal length but eXtended 'circiiini'erentially or, the rim, and the latch as a Whole beingproportionedand pivoted at the elbow with the riin spaced points only on each side otsaid pivot, said points of contact being so related to said pivot and said rim that 1nove1n ent of the latch members from latched posi V Wlll cause said points of frictional'conta'c't to subtend an increasing chord of said rinij 2. In asplit the rim a latch pivoted iini spaced r'elation to said rimand frictionally contacting therewith at two spaced pointsi said points of Contact being onopposite sides of said pivot so that movement ofthe latch from latched position toivarcl'unlatched posi} tion Will cause said pointsof frictional contact to subteiid an increasing cl'i'oifd of run. I r

3. In a splittir e rinra latch pivote'd; in spaced relation to said i'irni'a'nd] rictio nal'ly contacting therewith atf t'wo spaced points on opposite sides of sai'd'pivot, said points of contact being so related to "said pivot and said rim that movement Off the latch from latched position toward? nnlatched' position will cause said points of frictional contact to subtend an increasing"hoi 'dfof said rim, the chord from the ivot to one of said points of frictional contact increa's ing While the chord from the pivot to th'e other of said points decreases at a less rate.

CHRIS T." nines;

tion towards iinlatch'edposition 1 as to contact 

